Going with the flow or going against the flow

Here is a list of activities which may assist or impede emotional processing. Some (eg drinking alcohol) may dull the immediate hurt of the negative life event but not necessarily affect the processing of the event itself. Others (eg writing down the experience) may assist emotional processing more obviously.

Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
Inactivity
Continued activity without rest
Continued cognition (lack of balance with non cognitive, non verbal activities) eg worry, rumination, continued problem solving
Lack of sleep/dreams

* Whereas distraction may reduce the emotional arousal of minor emotional events (‘daily hassles’) and be useful to get through the day without being over-reactive, it is likely to be detrimental for a serious event/trauma. Horowitz (1979,1980 & 1990) suggests mental avoidance and distraction may contribute to post traumatic stress disorder.